In-house Emergency Service (BHV)

Leiden University has an extensive in-house emergency service (Bedrijfshulpverlening, BHV). An emergency response officer is an employee who has followed a training programme allowing him or her to assist others in case of minor incidents. Do you want to become an emergency response officer yourself? Please read the information below.

What is an emergency response officer?

A University emergency response officer works to reduce injury and damage to persons. The primary duties of an emergency response officer are to:

provide first aid in case of accidents

limit and fight a starting fire

alert and evacuate all persons present in the building in case of an emergency

work together with other first-aid organisations, such as the fire department and ambulance service

An emergency response officer plays the role of outpost for the fire department and other first-aid organisations. Emergency response officers intervene after an accident or fire, until the professional first-aid organisations take over this task.

How to become an emergency response officer

If you wish to become an emergency response officer, you can follow a course via the University. This course is voluntary but not without obligation. To retain your BHV diploma you are required to take part in internal BHV exercises at least six times a year.

If you are interested in becoming an emergency response officer, please contact your location’s BHV coordinator.